Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning

Stress and resilience in families of children
with specific learning disabilities
Iva STRNADOVÁ
Charles University. Praga, República Checa
Recibido: mayo, 2006
Aceptado: junio, 2006
Resumen
El objetivo de este trabajo se centra en el estrés y la capacidad de adaptación que experimentan las familias con niños con necesidades educativas especiales, en especial con familias con niños con dificultades específicas de aprendizaje. Se presentan un conjunto de factores que afectan a las familias con niños
con NEE y se explica la importancia de poner una atención especial a la capacidad de adaptación. Puesto que las dificultades de aprendizaje están entre las desviaciones con serios efectos capacidad de adaptación, la atención especial se pone en las familias con niños de estas características. Se ha realizado un
análisis de la literatura existente con el fin de identificar los elementos claves relacionados con esas
familias.
Palabras clave: estrés, capacidad de adaptación, necesidades educativas especiales, dificultades específicas de aprendizaje, familia, dislexia.
Abstract
The article aims at stress and resilience experienced by families of children with special educational
needs (SEN) specially on families of children with specific learning disabilities (SLD). Different factors influencing the level of stress experienced by families of children with SEN are described and the
importance of paying more attention to resilience is highlighted. As the specific learning disabilities
bare included in the slight deviations with serious psychosocial effects, the main attention is given to
families of children with specific learning disabilities. The analysis of literature was made in order to
examine the key issues related to these families and the corresponding conclusions were drawn.
Key Words: Stress, resilience, special educational needs, specific learning disabilities, family, dyslexia.
Great consideration is given to the family in the sector of social sciences. But
many aspects have not been sufficiently investigated yet. This relates to constant
changes of family structure, family goals and family functionality. The functions of
a family, which are reproduction, care of the individual, education in terms of individualisation, socialisation and adaptation, social and emotional control among
others (Cohen in Kirmayer, 1997), can be more or less disturbed in a family with a
disabled family member. In such families we encounter an increased amount of stress
and, at the same time, we have to deal with possible strategies of coping with stress
in these families.
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
ISSN 1130-2496
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
The objective of the article is to describe the factors influencing the level of stress
experienced by the families of children with specific learning disabilities and the
coping strategies acquired by these families. Many aspects are common for families
with children with special educational needs (SEN) in general; therefore the first part
of the article describes stress and resilience in these families. Second part of the article
focuses on issues connected especially with specific learning disabilities. Therefore the
analysis of accessible journals was undertaken in order to establish the quantity of articles on dyslexia1 and families and to provide an evaluative comment on the value of
the articles in relation to identifying and supporting families of dyslexic children.
Stress and resilience in families of children with special educational needs (SEN)
The birth of a disabled child is a change, threatening the change of the family’s
functioning. In relation to the child’s disability a range of factors affects the family
and its ability to cope with this handicap. The single levels are well described using
a scheme (scheme 1, author Iva Strnadová).
On the 1st level the family of the child with special educational needs is
influenced by the state’s policies regarding people with special needs. The
effect of the media, which reflect the state’s policies and the society’s attitudes, can be assigned to the same level.
The 2nd level shows the effect of institutions on families with children with
special educational needs – meaning school, additional experts that are called,
because of the child’s disablement, but also society with its attitudes towards
disabled people.
On the 3rd level the second level with all aspects is explained. For example, school influences parents regarding school leadership, the teacher’s education, the quality of the cooperation between family and school.
On the 4th level are psychological factors regarding the parents’ ability to
cope with their child’s disablement and to influence it. Without a doubt family
dynamics and family resilience are part of these factors.
The 5th level indicates the possible existence of other stress factors that, in
the end, influence the parental perception of the child’s handicap.
The 6th level expresses the socio-economic background of the family,
which plays an essential role as well.
The impacts on families with children with special needs may be even more
complex and complicated. The shown scheme tries to indicate the difficult situation
for these families and the reasons, why each family experiences the child’s disability
differently.
1 The terms specific learning disabilities, SLD and dyslexia are used in the following text as synonyms
because of stylistic reasons. This can be justified on the bases of studying the professional literature (see Říčan
– Krejčířová 1997, page 132).
36
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
Scheme 1. Factors influencing families of children with special educational needs (Strnadová in Lednická, 2004)
I. Strnadová
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
37
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
Mostly, the descriptions focus on parental reactions to the birth of a disabled
child. The time when parents are informed about the diagnosis, meaning the period
when the child “officially” started to act deviantly is named “crisis of parental identity” by Vágnerová (2001). More stages, where parents try to cope with the fact, succeed this one.
1. Shock and denial – this is the first stage, the first reaction to the diagnosed
disablement. Parents, who have naturally prepared themselves for the birth of
a healthy child, whose ideas are connected to a healthy descendant, are shocked. It is experiencing a stress situation that gradually “develops to a deprivation of the need of self-realisation as parents, of an open future and of a secure feeling” (Vágnerová, 2001, 78).
2. Gradual acceptance of reality, coping with the problem is a stage of indefinite length. It does not always result in the parent’s acceptation of the child’s
disablement. If the parents are not able to accept reality then “different mechanisms of protection evolve” that aim at “maintaining the psychological balance at least in the minimum achievable degree” (Vágnerová, 2001, 79). Two
ancient mechanisms are the basis for these protection measures – attack and
flight. Which one to choose depends on the temper, other individual dispositions and experiences.
3. Realistic attitude is the stage during which parents accept their child’s disablement and its consequences. All parents do not reach this stage.
Stress within the family with a disabled child usually starts before the handicap is
even diagnosed. Parents often suspect that “something is wrong” with the child.
Often the parents request a psychological examination and are not taken serious with
their fears. The next stressful stage is the diagnosis of the disablement. In technical
literature we often find a description of stages that parents live through, when they
find out about their child’s disablement.
The beginning of school attendance is usually a very straining period of life for
parents of children with SEN. At this time they are fully confronted with the corresponding handicap. Fears regarding the child’s future, opportunities to study and professional career are added. Often parents fear the heredity of the disablement, they
fear that their grandchildren may have the same handicap.
For unmarried or single mothers, raising a disabled child turns out to be even
more difficult. Additionally, a disabled child can be a burden for his or her siblings.
Increased attention to the disabled child can become a problem as well as protective
behaviour of a sibling.
The social environment, particularly the relations to grand-parents and friends,
play an important role regarding mastering a stress situation. To be a parent of a challenged child, without any doubt, belongs to such stressful situations. Where parents
face non-acceptance and a lack of understanding, social contacts are reduced. This is
reflected in the forms of coping with stress.
38
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
But not only parents experience stress. Challenged children also are susceptible
to psychological stress (Fawcett, 1995 in Reid, 1996). Fawcett (in Reid, 1996) credits this fact to these children’s high probability of failing in the corresponding schooling system. One of the sources of stress cited for children with special needs is their
family. That’s why stress prevention should be part of the societal priorities, because the increased stress level in families probably causes an increased stress level in
children. This leads to more failures at school. A vicious circle develops.
Preventive programmes, practical neighbourly help, economic help, educational
help, crisis services, counselling, educational programmes, therapeutical services,
respite care and palliative care belong to the basic forms of accompaniment and support (Vágnerová, 2001).
Prevention within a family with a child with SEN can take place differently. Individual conversations or joint activities with parents and child can be organised.
Experts, devoted to familial accompaniment and support, have to be aware of the difficulties, brought along by a counsellor’s interventions in the family. Basic ones are
risks, caused by the intervention in family life. A key difference is the idea that
accompaniment and support do not regard the family as an object of special educational care, but as an equal partner with competences (Vítková, 2003).
When speaking about prevention and support offered to families with disabled
child, we cannot omit resilience. Resilience plays the key role in dealing with the
challenging life situations – to which undoubtedly belongs the disability of one’s
child, relatively new term in psychology and education.
The term of family resilience according to Sobotková (2004) relates to the coping
strategies and adaptation processes of the family. Rather than a stable characteristic
of the family, it is a dynamic family property. Sobotková (2004) accurately describes
it as a renewable power that helps to keep up or to renew harmony within the family.
Family resilience is not a new concept, but was introduced to stress theory relatively
late. According to Copan, who is specialised on the problem of family, resilience
expresses the idea according to which “some individuals or families have the physical strength, psychological repartee and interpersonal abilities, which allow reactions
to serious challenges and to grow on the basis of this experience” (in Boss, 2002, 4).
By this definition Copan agrees with Hauser and Walsh, who indicate two important indicators of resilience, which is the fact that resilience is a process that implies
growth –one becomes stronger “thanks to the experience” (in Boss, 2002, p. 4).
Thus, resilience is not just surviving an incident, an experience– resilience is coping
with that experience.
The degree of resilience according to Sobotková (2004) is influenced by the type
of familial functioning, by the form of evaluation of a stressing situation in the
family, by the problem solving skills, by the coping strategies, by the parents’ personality and the source of familial durability. There are external and internal sources of
familial durability. External sources in this case are for example the socio-economical stability of the family or the social network of support. Internal sources according
to Sobotková (2004) are categorised in familial system sources (meaning cohesion
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
39
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
and flexibility of the family, mutual intellectual orientation and others) and personal,
individual sources (meaning intelligence, knowledge, self esteem and others)
But one cannot assume that resilience depends on personal characteristics and
familial properties only. Masten and O’Connor emphasise that the “ability for resilience may also have its roots in genes and the individual’s environment, the influence of which still goes on” (in Boss, 2002, 5).
When studying resilience we rather focus on protective factors that cause resilience. According to Boss (2002, 76) in families the following factors lead to resilience:
– style of adjudication and ascription – includes the blame of external and internal powers
– reaction style –expresses considerations regarding a situation or, for example,
the offensive position in the environment
– cognitive style –shows, for example, whether a person is optimistically or pessimistically minded
– social skills –include the connection as well as the isolation to others
– problem solving skills –are, for example, seeking expert advice or personal
search for solutions without consulting others
Regarding counselling practice it is encouraging that protective factors can be
taught. But as much as children can learn resilient behaviour from their parents, they
can also acquire dysfunctional strategies in coping with stress. If the father, for
example, learns to solve his problems by coming home and yelling at all family
members until he feels better, it is very probable that his child copies this behavioural pattern. For the parents this may be one of the most important arguments to learn
resilient behaviour. At this point it is important to realise that if we want to understand resilience, we have to contemplate the family members’ characteristics as well
as the characteristics of the family as a whole.
In the past years more and more scientists have been giving attention to the
impact of spirituality and faith regarding coping with familial stress. In case of an
emergency people, who look for comfort in their religious denomination during
times of stress; turn to local representatives of their faith and to families and friends
who share their beliefs. This form of problem solution is positive, but spirituality and
faith may not always offer positive methods of coping with stress.
Studying resilience factors brings about certain difficulties. If we only concentrate on what makes an individual resilient, we may miss a more important task – which
is the prevention of negative incidents within the society that are, without a doubt,
prejudices against people with special needs in the field of education, racism,
poverty or child abuse among others. According to Boss “we may not accept the status quo when change is possible” (2002, 82)– that’s why it is not always the best
choice to stay resilient.
As a conclusion one can state that in mastering such situation, like a child’s disablement, the cooperation between parents and experts plays an important role. Con40
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
necting both perspectives, a sufficiently profound idea of the problem can be achieved. The companions have to be aware that parents of more or less severely disabled
children dispose of more rights than the ones granted by law, as, for example, Gorgon states (in Černá, 1997, 178): the right to remorse and dolefulness, to self-remorse and self-torture, the right to be convinced to do the best for their child, not to be
intimidated by experts and not to be blamed for their children’s failures, to always be
informed about what is happening to the child, to be able to accept help without a
feeling of gratefulness and dependence, to make decisions for themselves and for the
child, to spin tales occasionally, to “retouch” reality, to expect wonders.
The couples, at the same time, have the right to be respected as experts, they have
the right to get real and non-distorted information about the child, the right to the
conviction that they also do the best for their students, which can be done at that
moment, the right not to be blamed for the child’s failures in learning and behaviour.
If we succeed in identifying the sources of stress that most families with a disabled family member suffer from, this will help considering changes. Studying the
“secrets” of resilient families is just as important as other aspects and deserves much
more attention than in the past. At first we have to change the changeable and only
then we can search for coping strategies for the unchangeable.
Families of children with specific learning disabilities
“Slight deviations of mental development are gaining ever greater social importance“(Matějček, 1995, 8). Specific learning disabilities (SLD) are a prototype of
such slight deviations with serious psychosocial effects. They concern the family and
family life importantly; they are reflected in educational attitudes to the child and
retrospectively influence not only his own attitude to school, but the whole of his further psychosocial development.
The value of education from the overall social point of view has increased considerably. Simultaneously the ambitions of parents are likewise increasing. The school success of children is today, more than ever before, a sign of the educational (but
also generally reproductive) success of their parents.
Therefore this article is aimed at families of children with specific learning disabilities, specifically at recognizing the way in which these families of children with
SLD adapt psychologically to this relatively “light” handicap of their children. For
this purpose the analysis of (for the author accessible) literature was undertaken. The
objectives were:
– to establish the quantity of articles on dyslexia2 and families,
– to establish the specific themes that provided the focus for the research reported in those articles,
2
Due to stylistic reasons the terms “specific learning disabilities” and “dyslexia” are used as synonyms in
this article. This strategy can be judged on the basis of reviewed literature (see Krejčířová, Řičan, 1997, p. 132).
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
41
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
– to identify the current social and emotional needs of families of dyslexic children and
– to provide an evaluative comment on the value of the articles in relation to
identifying and supporting families of dyslexic children.
Table 1 below indicates the journals studied and the number of articles relating to
families and specific learning difficulties.
Journal
Nº of articles in total
Nº of articles ref.
to families
Percentage of total
Annals of Dyslexia, 19 Volumes since
An Interdisciplinary since 1983Journal of The Orton 285 articles
Dyslexia Society,
USA (now IDA)
5 articles referring
to issue of family
1.8%
Australian Journal of 21 Volumes since
Learning Disabilities, 1996 - 126 articles
Educator’s
Association, Australia
4 articles referring
to issue of family
3.2%
Bulletin of the Orton
Society, USA
11 Volumes since
1967 - 132 articles
5 articles referring
to issue of family
3.8%
Dyslexia: An
Internacional Journal
of Research and
Practice, UK
30 Volumes since
1995 - 120 articles
3 articles referring
to issue of family
2.5%
Journal of Learning
Disabilities, USA
33 Volumes since
1999 - 264 articles
3 articles referring
to issue of family
1.1%
Perspectives, The
25 Volumes since
International
1996 - 150 articles
Dyslexia Association,
USA
4 articles referring
to issue of family
2.7%
Thalamus, A Journal
of the International
Academy for
Research in
Learning
Disabilities, USA
13 Volumes since
1985 - 65 articles
3 articles referring
to issue of family
4.6%
1,142
27 articles referring
to issue of family
2.4%
Total
Table 1. The number of articles in the journals studied relating to families
and specific learning difficulties (Strnadová in Lednická, 2004)
42
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
These results are highlighted in fig 1 below.
Average number of articles in the above mentioned journals - contributions concerning family (N=27) present 2.4% from the total number of articles (N=1142).
Studies about the issue children with specific learning disabilities
285
number of articles
264
150
132
126
articles
family
120
65
Perspectives,
USA
Dyslexia, UK
Bulletin, USA
4
3
3
Thalamus, USA
3
5
Journal, USA
4
Australian Journal,
Australia
Annals, USA
5
journals
Figure 1. Studies about the issue children with specific learning disabilities
in the journals studied (Strnadová in Lednická, 2004)
The analysis involved dividing the articles dealing with the issue of families with
dyslexic children published in accessible journals focused on specific learning disabilities into three basic categories (see figure 2).
1. Articles written by parents of children with specific learning disabilities
2. Articles about the issue of families of children with specific learning disabilities
3. Articles written for families of children with specific learning disabilities.
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
43
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
Cathegories of articles
articles written
by parents
11%
articles written
for families
19%
articles about the
issue families of
children with
specific learning
disabilities
70%
Figure. 2: Categories of articles in the journals studied (Strnadová in Lednická, 2004).
Interestingly enough, majority of articles involved in the analysis were written by
authors from non-European countries.
Concerning the time of publishing the articles, we can see that while during
1967–1987 only 8 articles about families with children with specific learning disabilities, between 1992–2004 it was already 19 articles (see table 2). This seems to
reflect the increased interest in families in general.
Type of article
Number of articles
Year
1) Articles written by
parents of children
with specific learning
disabilities
3
1967
1970
1984
2) Articles about the
issue families of
children with specific
learning disabilities
a) Articles dealing
with genetic aspects
of specific learning
44
19
1986
1992
1993
4
2001
Journal
Bulletin of the
Orton Society
Bulletin of the
Orton Society
Bulletin of the
Orton Society
Country
Idaho, USA
New York,
USA
Maryland,
USA
Annals of Dyslexia Ohio, USA
Annals of Dyslexia Washington,
USA
Annals of Dyslexia Florida,
Lousiana,
USA
Journal of Learning Israel
Disabilities
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
Type of article
b) Articles dealing with
family background of
children with specific
learning disabilities
Number of articles
15
Year
1970
1973
1995
1996
1997
1998
1998
1999
2000
2001
2001
2002
2002
2003
2004
3) Articles written for
families of children
with specific learning
disabilities
5
1976
1987
1996
1997
Journal
Bulletin of the
Orton Society
Bulletin of the
Orton Society
Dyslexia
Australian Journal
of Learning
Disabilities
Australian Journal
of Learning
Disabilities
Thalamus
Thalamus
Journal of Learning
Disabilities
Australian Journal
of Learning
Disabilities
Dyslexia
Australian Journal
of Learning
Disabilities
Thalamus
Dyslexia
Country
USA
USA
Netherlands
New York,
USA
NSW,
Australia
Canada
Israel
Finland
South
Australia,
Australia
Netherlands
South
Australia,
Australia
Israel
Queensland,
Australia
Journal of Learning Finland
Disabilities
Perspectives
USA
Bulletin of the
Orton Society
Annals of
Dyslexia
Perspectives
Perspectives
Ontario,
Canada
Maryland,
USA
UK
USA
Table 2: Details about articles in the journals studied relating to families
and specific learning difficulties (Strnadová in Lednická, 2004)
Stress and resilience in families of children with dyslexia
The most frequented common features in families of children with specific learning disabilities are:
– higher level of experiencing stress (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002),
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
45
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
– frequent occurrence of anxiety (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002) and feelings of
guilt (Brock and Shute, 2001),
– lower level of satisfaction from one’s life experienced by individual members
of family (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002),
– over protectiveness of children (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002),
– fear for the future (Brock and Shute, 2001),
– difficulties with accepting reality of specific learning disabilities of own child
(Brock and Shute, 2001) and though resulting higher level of emphases on the
development of siblings of the child (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002),
– higher emphasis on structure and control of family system (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002),
– conflicts within the frame of family systems, insufficient mutual support between members of family and lower encouragement of free expressions of
emotions (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002).
It is obvious that families of children with SLD experience significant difficulties.
Some authors speak about “parental stress“in these families.
One explanation of this phenomena is offered by Dyson (2001 in Brock and
Shute, 2001, s.15), who supposes that stress is in this case connected with “invisible
and seemingly benign nature“of specific learning disabilities. These hidden factors
can result in delayed diagnosis and subsequently delayed intervention.
Brock and Shute (2001), speak about three sources of stress in families of children with specific learning disabilities:
– problems children with specific learning disabilities (SLD) have, that retrospectively influence parents - these include lower levels of social skills, social
isolation, difficulties of child when dealing with SLD, inability to concentrate
for longer period, and hyperactivity of the child,
– outward factors which family cannot influence so much (e.g. cooperation with
educators, system of education or lack of social support from surrounding
environment),
– the ability of parents to manage their parental role in demanding situations common factors are feelings of guilt, exhaustion, sad feelings or difficulties
with accepting the disability of own child.
Brock and Shute (2001) came to conclusion that the most important sources of
stress for 57 mothers of children with SLD are some characteristics of their children,
such as moodiness, unadaptiveness, diffusiveness and hyperactivity. More than 80%
of mothers mentioned as a source of stress frustration of the child, time spend together when doing school homework and problems with self-esteem of their child.
Around 68% of mothers mentioned as the source of the stress the school or the teacher of their child.
46
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
Another area of importance is the differing ability of parents to cope with stress.
Some parents reach higher level of resilience than others no matter what they are
going through. While some families experience significant difficulties with having
child with disabilities, other families are able “cope effectively with difficulties and
turn them into challenges” (AlYagon and Margalit, 2002, 41).
On the contrary resilience in the families does not have the space in research it
would deserve. This topic has been discussed only in one article in terms of the
“Resilient Family Model”, which is according to Snow (in Nichols, 2000) characterized by a well structured environment, effective use of time and positive emotional
climate.
Nichols (2000) mentions three factors that parents take into account when dealing
with SLD within the family:
a) difficulties in the cognitive area – parents mention especially problems with
concentration, auditory perception, short-term memory and understanding language. These parents come out of professional diagnosis, which is often source of pessimism to them;
b) level of development –some parents consider the difficulties of dyslexic origin as those connected with immaturity and therefore they suppose that difficulties of their children are only of temporary character;
c) level of motivation –some parents suggest that SLD of their children are more
question of motivation of their child than disorder. They are convinced that
difficulties of their child result for example from the fact that he prefers to
play football rather than to read. Some parents consider SLD as laziness, not
disability.
Studies dealing with families of children with SLD are not limited only to family
background of these children, but they also focus on the matter how families experience the social environment of their children. A good example is study from Toronto University (Wiener and Sunohara, 1998), who researched how mothers experience “friendship” of their child (children) with SLD. The results are interesting – many
mothers mentioned their children do have difficulty relating to the concept of
“friendship” and they described their children as “socially immature”. This does not
mean that their children are socially isolated– they have friends, but mothers have
often to intervene to construct, develop and encourage peer group friendships for
their child (children). To these parents it appeared like another responsibility they
had to undertake and manage.
Other topics related with families of children with dyslexia
The stress and resiliency where not the only topics covered in studied articles.
Unfortunately the articles dealing with the theme families of children with specific
learning disabilities are not commonly frequented. This may raise the question Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
47
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
Why? It might be suggested that the most highly circulated journals are academic
ones and it might be argued that the experiences of parents seem not scholarly
enough to the publishers? Yet of course conventional wisdom would indicate that
parental experiences are of key importance. Particularly in order to obtain some
insights of the difficulties families face on a daily basis.
The general approach of the articles written by parents appears to focus on questions that may occur to parents once their child has been diagnosed dyslexic. For
example parents often mention how they would have changed their behavior towards
their child if they could turn back the clock. This applied particularly to parents who
obtained a diagnosis for their child after 15 years or more.
Experiences of parents are not the only source of information for professionals
within the field of specific learning disabilities, but they are a primary source and can
offer advice and encouragement for other parents.
Articles written primarily for parents of children with SLD are not frequented
either. Integral components of these articles are usually suggestions on how to develop the skills of dyslexic children and how to help them cope with the demands of
school.
Cicci (1987) highlights the importance of both the parents being engaged with the
child with SLD indicating that it is necessary that both parents understand the problem and jointly support intervention. She suggests that the translation of professional jargon is a key aspect in making articles accessible for parents. She also suggests
that parents need to emphasize to their child the value of them as an individual. Children need to know she maintains that every success is valuable and not only success
in school. “We need professionals in education, medicine and law, but our lives are
also immensely enriched by artists, musicians, poets and sportsmen. We need builders, but also dreamers” (Cicci 1987, s.206).
This is important as many children with SLD suffer from low self-esteem.
Parents, who by themselves fight with the feelings of disappointment on their child
underachievement, can be transferring their disappointment and fears to the child
that further deepen any feelings of inferiority.
Conclusions
The literature highlights the importance of addressing the social and emotional
needs of children with dyslexia. Children however are usually part of family units
and the disability literature identifies the effect on families of a child with disability
within the family (Reid, 2004, Frude, 1990).
Compared to other dyslexia related themes such as educational, neurological and
cognitive factors relating to dyslexia, family related issues seems to be given less
prominence in the literature. This may be because of the variation in cultural and
contextual settings within different countries that can influence the prominence or
otherwise of family related issues. This may make international research less valua48
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
ble. The author of the article as well as other professionals (e.g. Reid, 2003), however, believe that irrespective of culture and context there are common issues and
common themes that can have impact on families. This means that theoretical perspectives and practical solutions can have universal application.
This view is supported by research carried out in different countries –for example in United Kingdom by Gavin Reid or in the Czech Republic by the team of researchers3. These researches confirm the assumption that dyslexia is the source of
stress for families of children with this disability and that the identification of individual source-of-stress categories can help to improve the level of support provided
to families of these children. The results also showed a need for more precise cooperation among teachers, parents, special educators, psychologists and counselors who
participate in the care of children with dyslexia. A successful example of such cooperation can be –among others– project supported by European Union, “DYPATEC
–Dyslexia– Parents’ and Teachers’ Collaboratión”4.
References
AL-YAGON, M.; MARGALIT, M. (2002). Relations between Mother’s Sense of Coherence,
Children’s Experience of Loliness, and Family Climate Profiles among Kindergartners
At-Risk for Developing Learning Disabilities. Thalamus, Winter, vol. 20, nº 1, 40-49.
Analýza stresových a resilientních činitelů v rodinách dětí se specifickými poruchami učení
(SPU), projekt Psychiatrického centra Praha podpořeného Grantovou agenturou ČR,
registrační číslo 406/04/0689.
BOSS, P. (2002). Family Stress Management: A Contextual Approach. 2nd ed. London: Sage
Publications, ISBN 0-8039-7390-X.
BROCK, A.; SHUTE, R. (2001). Group Coping Skills Program for Parents of Children with
Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities. Australian Journal Of Learning Disabilities,
vol. 6, nº 4, 15-25.
CICCI, R. (1987). Dyslexia: Especially for Parents. Annals of Dyslexia, vol. 37, ISSN 07369387, 203-211.
COHEN, R. (1997). The Influence of Mass Media on the Family – An Explanatory Model. In
KIRMAYER, P.-PINNES, N. (Ed.). Adult Education in Israel II-III. Jerusalem: Publications
Department, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, 191 - 207. ISBN 0793-033-033.
191 - 207.
ČERNÁ, M. (1997). Rodina s mentálně postiženým dítětem. In LECTA, V., MATUSˇKA, O., ZÁSZKALICZKY, P. Nové cesty k postihnutým ĺud’om: Rozvoj systému, poradenství a integrácie. Bratislava: Liečreh Gúth, 173-180. ISBN 80-967 383-7-2.
FRUDE, N. (1990). Understanding Family Problems: A Psychological Approach. Chichester:
John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-92276-5.
3 Analysis of stress and resilience factors in families of children with specific learning disabilities, project of Psychiatric center Praha supported by Grant agency ČR, registration number 406/04/0689, 2002-2005.
Coordinator: Zdeněk Matějček, Marie Vágnerová. Cooperative researchers: Lenka Krejčová, Iva Strnadová.
4 This Grundtvig2-project is funded by the European Commission and focuses on the interaction between professionals and other adults, particularly parents, who share the responsibility of supporting children and
young people with dyslexia. For more information see: http://www.dypatec.org/en/
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50
49
I. Strnadová
Stress and resilience in families of children with specific learning disabilities
KREJČÍŘOVÁ, D. – ŘIČAN, P. (1997). Dětská klinická psychologie. - Praha: Grada Publishing.
ISBN 80-7169-512-2
LEDNICKÁ, I. (2004). Rodiny dětí s dyslexií. Náročné životní situace: stres a resilience. (Families of children with dyslexia. Demanding life situations: stress and resilience.). Praha.
(Dissertation. Charles University in Prague. Faculty of Education. Department of Special
Education. Supervisor: Doc. PhDr. Marie Černá. CSc).
MARGALIT, M.; AL-YAGON, M.; NEUBERGER, S. (1998). Mothers’ Coherence, Family Climate and Preschool Children with Learning Disabilities: Risk and Resilience. Thalamus, Fall
vol. 16, nº 1, 28-31.
MATĚJČEK, Z. (1995). Dyslexie-specifické poruchy učení. 3.vyd. Praha: Jinočany H&H. ISBN
80-85787-27-X.
NICHOLS, S. (2000). Parental Involvement in Supporting Children with Learning Difficulties.
Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2000, vol. 5, nº 2, 28-33.
REID, G. (Ed.) (1996). Dimensions of Dyslexia: Volume 2. Literacy, Language and Learning.
Morray House Publications. ISBN 0 901580 80 5.
REID, G. (2004). Dyslexia: A Complete Guide for Parents. Chichester: John Wiley & Son.
REID, G.(1993). Dyslexia: A Practitioner’s Handbook. 3rd ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
ISBN 0-470-84852-9.
ŘÍČAN, P., KREJČIŘOVÁ, D. (1997). Dětská klinická psychologie. Praha: Grada Publishing.
ISBN 80-7169-512-2.
SOBOTKOVÁ, I. (2004). Model rodinné resilience. Habilitační přednáška.
VÁGNEROVÁ, M. (2001). Psychologie problémového dítěte školního věku. Univerzita Karlova v Praze: nakladatelství Karolinum. ISBN 80-7184-488-8.
VÍTKOVÁ, M. (Ed.). (2003). Otázky speciálně pedagogického poradenství: Základy, teorie,
praxe. Brno: Paido. ISBN 80-86633-08-X.
WIENER, J. and SUNOHARA, G. (1998). Mothers’ Perceptions Of The Friendship Patterns Of
Their Children With Learning Disabilities, Thalamus, Fall, vol. 16, nº 1, 32-34.
Correspondencia con la autora:
Iva Strnadová
Charles University in Prague. Faculty of Education. Department of Special Education
M.D.Rettigové, 4. 116 39, Praha 1. Czech Republic
Email: [email protected]
50
Rev. Complut. Educ.
Vol. 17 Núm. 2 (2006) 35-50